REAL Websites VERSUS FAKE Websites: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
Why is reading and trusting fake websites so problematic and how do we avoid them?
Anybody can create a website and therefore some websites are better than others. Here are some helpful tips to determine what is real and what is fake online.
- Consider the source: Who is the author or news organization and what are their qualifications? Is the author a person or company that is qualified to write about the subject?
* Avoid websites in which anyone, regardless of experience or education, can post information such as Wikipedia or Yahoo Answers.
- Why was the website created? Was the website created to educate or inform? Was it created to sell you something or change your opinion on a particular topic? It's important to find websites that present all sides of a topic and let you make up your own mind.
* Commerical websites (.com), organizational websites (.org) or network websites (.net) must be written by a credible author before you can trust them.
- When was the website created or updated? For most topics you want the most current information possible in case there are new discoveries or updates.
- Fact Check! Can you find the same facts on a different, trustworthy website? If you can not verify the information anywhere else, there is a good chance it is fake.
Mrs. Dechon's Internet Evaluation Project:
Please review and discuss the websites below. What do you notice about the websites? Compile a list of your observations.
Links:
Week 1:
All About Explorers
Fact Monster: Biographies of Explorers
Week 2:
The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
Glitter Lungs
Week 3:
Endangered Animals - Free Encyclopedia
World Wildlife Fund Endangered Animals: The Asian Elephant